Put Another Nickel In

Discussions on Talking Machines & Accessories
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phonogfp
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Put Another Nickel In

Post by phonogfp »

“On This Day in the History of Recorded Sound…”

December 18, 1889: Louis Glass and William Arnold filed for a U.S. patent for “Coin Actuated Attachment for Phonographs.” This would become the first coin-operated talking machine introduced to the public.

https://www.antiquephono.org/#/
Glass, Louis patent1.png
Glass Louis patent2.png

JerryVan
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Re: Put Another Nickel In

Post by JerryVan »

A really interesting mechanism. It appears that each of the 3 listening tubes has its own coin slot. If only 2 customers pay to listen, the third, (unpaid), listening tube would then be silenced by means of its tubing pinched shut.

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phonogfp
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Re: Put Another Nickel In

Post by phonogfp »

You have correctly sussed out the mechanism, Jerry. Certainly an odd design, but it was the first. I don't believe any of these Glass/Arnold machines survive.

George P.

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shopdoc
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Re: Put Another Nickel In

Post by shopdoc »

Dad loved nickelodeons as well as Edisons, so the first thing I thought of when I read the title was that this was a nickelodeon post. Put another nickel in, In the nickelodeon, All I want is Loving you and Music, music, music.

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